Loading platform



March 2, 1954 c. D. BINTLIFF ETAL LOADING PLATFORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. l5, 1949 Ef' INVENTORS/ /4 TTORNEYJ March 2, 1954 c. D.BINTLIFF ET AL LOADING PLATFORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Got. 15, 1949Patented Mar. 2, 1954 AT ENT OFF ILC E..

2,670,484 ADING PLATFORM Chester Dit' Bintlii' an d Eugene; L.Attebery',l

Houstom-Tex., assignors,.by direct andA mesne assignmentato. Gulf C analLines,.Inc.,v,Houston,.

Txw a' corporation of'Tex'as Application October 15, 1949;. Serial No.1215532 (CI.l 121-72),

Y .31-Claims-l i.

This: application relates general toi loading platforms of the: type.sometimes referredz to: as gangpl'anlrs; and; more. particularly,- hasreference thatltypeol loading platform adapted-to bridge thef'spacebetween a loading dock` on the` one hand'a-nd a carrier om the. other:hand so: that goods may be moved:` from-*the loading: dock to thecarrier or vice versa either manually' orby xricld'ein mechanicalcargo:A handling devices with tlef'leastfdiiiclltyrandls'o thattheloading platiformmay beir moved 'readily` and'` adapted to varibusipositions,A and types of carrier; The generalobject of? thisi inventionisfto provide a: load' lng" platform'- of thei typezreferred? to whichwill bef inexpensive to manufacture vetlwhich.: willf be highlyf'emeient andrinsyfte;v handierand adjust to all' or tliei varyingconditions under' which it may be" required@ toi Operate..

loading platform will? be described; and iliistratedin its application'tot the situation in ywlichf-lilislto beus'ed'f forthelo'adingi andunloadtrifcks or similar-'vehicles from or toV a stationary-loadingdock; although' it.- will? bel ap'- preci'a`tedthat? it would! likewisebe usablefor loa -orunloading iothertypesi 'off carriers as thiefdescription ortii'epart'icular application of this invention which isfdisclos'edin the' draw; reference will bei hade to thegroundi surfaceor" like' suppeiitf and itfwilli befunderstood that the s'ixfaeef' thatis iitendedto-lbereferred to is not merelyithe natral surface* of theyground butV also any; pavement oij platforr'n whichf might be: pro'-tfi'de'dq at la positibn spaced somewhat, from the fea-dine' edge efleading: decken-ease: disposed and of' Strength? asi tof supporti oneend ofv the loading platform here i More spe'cil'icaliy;` itl an objectof' this' inventio'riv to'J provide loading* platform; read-iii;radapt.- ibffe tolloadingf or' unloading carriers of variousheightsffroinf or to' al loading-'f dock.

' Another object er this' i'mfentnm:y is: te' provide siih'aflbadingplatre miwhich may be"v readiiy moved lengthwise ofl't e loading 'dge ofa` dock A n'idthe'i" obct is to#k provide: Stich' a loading lil'tformwif will riot'y depen'daupon the'r carrier to sill'prt thevv platform?in: position, so that the 'platform 'be kept ini'position with: respectto the dock' even when nor carrierV is present and so that' the`- dangerci dropping the loading plataccide'ntal movement of the carrier beeliminated;

2. vide-f ai platform` readily adaptable to=loading or unloadingcarrier-slof various heights from orto a loading dock with an adjustableheight supporting means having ground-engagingparts readily movablelwith respect to` the. groundl in a directionf transversely of theplatform but eifering great resista-nce tomovement longitudinallyofthe*V platform.

Yet another object of this invention is toprovde aioading'platformadaptedtorest at'oneend on a loading dook andI having anadjustable height ground engaging support at its opposite end-WhichWill-resistmovement away from or toward the loading dock yet facilitatemovement parallel to the-loading dock.

`Olne otherobject of this invention is to-provide a loading .platformreadily adaptable tof loading or unloading carriersof various heightsfrom` or tof a loading dock, with means for limiting the overlapfof oneend.A of theplatform' withrespect to a loading-'dock andA thezapproachof a carrier to the other end off the platform.

Another obg'ect ofl the invention is to: provide a loadingplatformreadilyl adaptable to loading or unloading I carriers of variousyheights' from or to aloadingdock with means for limiting the overlap: ofone end of the platformf withy respect to a loading dock andthelapproachof a carrier tothe other end of the platformy which means'isad;- justable to.' suitl various conditions.

Other objects and.- advantages of thisinvention will becomeapparent-fromz the following description takenin connection with theaccompanyingdrawngs wherein is set forth: bylway of illustrationandiexample: one embodiment of this invention.. It will be understood thatthe following description and the accompanying drawings are by way ofvillustration and example only and arenot to betaken bywa-yfoflimitation.

In the drawing:

Figure lis a side elevation or aplatform constructed accordancewith thisinvention in use bridging the space between a loading dock on the onehand and the rear end of a truck-.ortrailer on the@ other hand?.

Figure' 2; is a top" plan' view of a loading platform. constructed' inaccordance with this invention..

Figure 3l is` an end elevation ot the loading platform shown in Figure(2,. the samebeingE along the line,y 3l-3, off; Figure 2f.

Figure. 4 is` ak fragmentary enlarged view illustratng themounting oithe lower end of.v onefof the,- supnorting legsoi the loading` platform,the samashawingthepartsI in persnectiveb Figure 5 is a fragmentaryperspective view illustrating the manner of construction of the abutmentadapted to engage the edge of a loading dock with which the platform isintended to cooperate.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but illustrating one of theabutments which is adapted to engage the edge of a carrier platform withughich the loading platform is adapted to coopera e.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the numeral I represents afloor member which may be of any suitable construction of sufficientstrength, one such construction being in the form of a steel plate.Floor sections 2 and 3 are illustrated as being hinged to the oppositeends of the floor member I for the purpose of providing approaches fromthe loading dock and from the carrier platform, respectively, when thisloading platform is in use.

rIfhe steel plate which forms the floor member I is preferablyreinforced longitudinally thereof by means of spaced angle irons Il and5 extending longitudinally along the under surface of the plate andsuitably welded or otherwise secured thereto. It is to be noted that theangle irons 4 are somewhat lighter than the angle irons 5 for the reasonthat the angle irons 5, as will presently be explained, serve assupports for the hinge connections for the floor sections 2 and 3.

For the purpose of providing a hinged connection for the floor section2, each of the angle irons 5 has welded or otherwise suitably secured toits depending flange adjacent the end thereof to which the floor section2 is to be hinged, a small hinge and rocker plate 6. This plate servesthe dual purpose of providing a curved lower edge 1 adapted to rest uponthe loading dock and support the adjacent end of the floor member I, andalso carries the pivot pin 8 forming a part of the hinge connection withthe floor section 2.

The oor section 2 is reinforced on its under surface by wedge shapedportions of channel sections as indicated at 9, there being one of thesefor each of the angle irons 5, but each of the angle iron sections 9being provided with a depending fiange which is tapered to a wedge likeshape toward the free edge of the door section 2. To each of thesedepending anges on the angle irons 9 adjacent that edge of the floorsection 2 which is adapted to be hinged to the floor member I, there iswelded or otherwise suitably secured a small section of plate I which ispreferably of the same thickness as the plate 6, and rigidly secured tothe outer surface of this plate I0 is a hinge link II pivotally engagingwith the pivot pin 8 on the plate 6. Thus, there is provided a multiplehinge connection between the floor member I and the oor section 2 sothat the floor section 2 may assume a given angle with respect to thesurface of the loading dock regardless of the angle at which the floormember I is disposed with respect to the floor surface of the loadingdock.

The loading dock illustrated is shown as having a floor I2 mounted uponsills I3 which are in turn supported upon pilings or other uprightsupports III. The edge of this dock which is adjacent the position atwhich the trucks or other carriers are to be stopped is provided with anabutment rail or beam I in a customary fashion, the upper edge of thisrail I5 being preferably substantially on a level with the floor I2.

Substantially at its opposite end from the loading dock, the loadingplatformof invention is provided with a transverse beam I6 providing arigid cross member secured to and supporting the ends of each of theangle irons 4 and 5. The beam I6, which is shown as an I-beam, is inturn supported by means of spaced depending channel members I1 welded orotherwise secured at their upper ends to spaced points on the beam I6and preferably also to depending flanges of two of the angle irons `4,the web and one ange of the channel member I1 being cut away as shown atIB to fit around the I-beam I6. Each of these channel members is furtherbraced with respect to the I-beam I6 by means of triangular shaped websI9 welded or otherwise suitably secured in the angles between the I-beamI6 and the respective channel shaped members I1.

Welded or otherwise secured to the inner face of each of the channelshaped members adjacent its lower end is a fiat securing plate 20carried by the upper end of a cylinder 2I forming part of a hydraulicjack. Cylinder 2| is thus made integral with and rigidly connected tothe channel shaped support member I1, and these two are still furtherbraced with respect to the floor member I by means of a strut 22 whichis secured to the upper end of the cylinder 2I at one of its ends and toan intermediate point on one of the angle irons at the other of itsends.

Adapted for reciprocation within the cylinder 2I is a plunger 23 whichextends downwardly from the lower end of the cylinder 2I and at itslower extremity is provided with a pivotal connection 24 upon a cradleor frame 25. The cradle or frame 25 at its opposite ends has axles 26 onwhich are carried respectively a pair of wheels 21. The axles 26 will beseen to be located in a plane at substantially right angles to the faceof the loading dock I2 and substantially parallel to the longitudinaledges of the floor member I while the pivot 24 will be seen to besubstantially normal to the longitudinal edges of the floor member I andapproximately parallel to the edge of the loading dock. The wheels 21are preferably provided with treads of a non-skid type so that whilethese wheels may roll freely upon the ground or other supportingsurface, they will offer great resistance to sliding in a directionlongitudinally of their axes.

The cylinders 2I may be braced with respect to each other in anysuitable fashion such as by means of the cross brace 28, and thehydraulic mechanism of the jacks provided by the cylinders 2l andplungers 23 are adapted to be actuated simultaneously through the mediumof a coupling 29 extending between them and a crank 3U or other means ofapplying power to actuate the jacks. It will be understood that thespecic construction of these jacks forms no part of this invention, itbeing sufficient that jacks be provided which are of such a nature thatthey may may cause the supports for the loading dock to be extended orretracted either manually or by some other suitable source of power, andthat the jacks need not be hydraulic.

For the purpose of providing a stop or abutment to prevent the doormember I from overlapping or overlying the loading dock to too great anextent, there are provided two angle irons 3I and 32, respectively, eachhaving a flange disposed next to the vertical iiange of one of theoutside angle irons 5, the vertical ange of the angle iron 3l beingdisposed on the inside of the flange of the angle iron 5 and thevertical flange of the angle iron 32 beingv dis` posed on the outsidethereof, Aso.that.thetwof aarden 'norizotarflanges er ure angefahrenandi' 32 i1 t'o each` other, the horizontal piane fsftrre door' memberr, and the' horizontal VHarige ofthe ari'gleironY 15 being' spaced:some- 'to the plateej and; the respective Hang-es e3'- and es areprovided? registering holes 3x5 y and. respectives; there beingA anumber of these Holes provided atva'ryihg distances from-the end of thefloor member Ii, andl each; pair of registerhg' Holes 35 35 beingadapted 'treceive an and thereby to limit the extent to which' theV:door member I will overlietheloading dock.

' adjustable abutment orstopy is likewise provided; at the opposite endof the'loor member I oir eaclr of the channel members I'I. For thepurpose-ofA mounting this abutment there are welded to the oppositeflanges of the channel members I'I brackets 33 and 39, respectively. Thebracket 38 is perforated at 40, and the bracket 39 is correspondinglyperforated to receive a bar 4I having an abutment plate 42 on its endwhich projects beyond the end of the floor member I. The bracket 39 hasa pair of lugs or ears 43 and 44, respectively, extending outwardly fromeach side of the opening through this bracket, these lugs or ears beingformed integral with the bracket and being provided with registeringopenings adapted to receive a pin 45. The bar 4I is likewise providedwith a series of perforations 45 adapted to receive the pin 45. Thus theposition of the bar 4I and of the abutment plate 42 may be adjusted bymoving the bar 4I through the openings 4|) in the brackets 38 and 39until the desired position is reached and then inserting the pin 45through the openings in the lugs 43 and 44 and a selected opening 46 inthe bar 4I.

It will be seen that the abutment plates 42 will always project more orless beyond the end of the floor member I and that it will, therefore,be necessary that a means be provided Ifor bridging between the end ofthis door member I and the platform of a truck, trailer or other carrierwith which this invention is adapted to cooperate. The hinged floorsection 3 accomplishes this purpose, and for the purpose of hinging thissection to the floor member I, the floor member is provided with spacedhinge brackets 4l, one of such brackets being located adjacent each ofthe angle irons 5 and being welded or otherwise suitably secured to thefloor member I. The floor section 3 is in its turn provided with angleirons 48, which are tapered toward the free edge of the floor section soas to permit the free edge of the oor section to lie close to the floorof the truck 49, or the like, there being one of these angle irons 48for each of the angle irons 4 and 5 of the main floor member I, and theangle irons 48 being preferably in alignment with the correspondingangle irons 4 and 5 of the floor member I.

Welded or otherwise secured to the floor section 3 are hinge brackets 59which are adapted to cooperate with the hinge brackets 41 and to clvlflig 13`i1s-5if Vto dlf the liitfl neeti'onbetween thefioor Section5and the iibormember f Y For the-purpose ofl reinforcing the oor seo-'-ti'onl 3 between the ends of' the tapered angle irons 48Vand the freeedge of the"- floor section, 'there may be Welded or secured in somesuitable manner tothe under surface of the floor' plate of the TQI"Se'iOI'I 3 a reinforcing plate 52, which lI'jrefeifa-bly' extends fromaA positionclosely adjaL cent thefreeI edge ofthe floor sectionY 3 to apoe 'siti'n` slightly overlapping the ends of the' angle te'. l p v nWhile wheeled supports are shown on one end f'thepliatfoirn only, and'approach sections or aprons are shown on two opposite ends only, itwill` bel-understood that this invention doesv not fpredlude the use' ofadditional wheeled supports andi aprons. i

From thex foregoing it will'be seenthat a loade ing' platform has beenprovided' which accomplishes all of' the objects and advantages` sought4byy invention.

- invention having been described, whatl is claimed: is; y I

Portable loading platform which comprises', .in combination, a rigidfloor' member adapted to' bridgethe space: between a loading doei: and acarrier, means Ifor supporting the carrier end of the floor member fromthe ground or like surface comprising rolling support means havingrollers disposed with their rotational axes transverse to the carrierend of the floor member, an end frame rigidly secured to the under sideof the carrier end of the oor member, and a jack rigidly connected atits upper end to the end frame and pivotally connected at its lower endto the rolling support means, the entire structure comprising the jack,the end frame and the floor member being tiltable about the pivotsupporting the lower end of the jack whereby the dock end of the floormember may be raised or lowered, an abutment member depending from theclock end of the floor member and adapted to engage the dock, theadjacent end of the door member projecting beyond the abutment member,and an abutment member carried by the end frame and adapted to engagethe carrier platform, the last mentioned abutment member projectingbeyond the adjacent end of the oor member, and a oor member approachsection hinged to the carrier end of the oor member.

2. A portable loading platform which comprises, in combination, a rigidfloor member adapted tobridge the space between a loading dock and acarrier, means for supporting the carrier end of the floor member fromthe ground or like surface comprising rolling support means havingrollers disposed with their rotational axes transverse to the carrierend of the oor member, an end frame rigidly secured to the under side ofthe carrier end of the floor member, and a jack rigidly connected at itsupper end to the end frame and pivotally connected at its lower end tothe rolling support means, the entire structure comprising the jack, theend frame and the oor member being tiltable about the pivot supportingthe lower end of the jack whereby the dock end of the oor member may beraised or lowered, an abutment member depending from the dock end of theoor member and adapted to engage the dock, the adjacent end of the floormember projecting beyond the abutment member, and an abutment membercarried by the end frame and adapted to engage the carrier platform, thelast mentioned abutment member projecting beyond the adjacent end of theiloor member, a floor member approach section hinged to the carrier endof the floor member, and a second floor meme ber approach section hingedto the dock end of the floor member.

3. A portable loading platform which comprises, in combination, a rigidfloor member adapted to bridge the space between a loading dock and acarrier, means for supporting the carrier end of the iioor member fromthe ground or like surface comprising rolling support means havingrollers disposed with their rotational axes transverse to the carrierend of the oor member, an end frame rigidly secured to the under side ofthe carrier end of the Iloor member, the end frame including atransverse floor supporting beam and a pair of elongated, verticallydisposed side members rigidly connected at their upper ends to the oorsupporting beam, the structure being additionally reinforced by bracesconnecting the lower ends of the side members to the oor member atpoints intermediate its ends, and a pair of jacks each rigidly connectedat its upper end to the lower end of one of the side members andpivotally connected at its lower end to the rolling support means, theentire structure comprising the jacks, the end frame and the floormember being tiltable about the pivots supporting the lower ends of thejacks whereby the dock end of the :door member may be raised or lowered,a pair of abutment members depending from the sides of the dock end ofthe floor member and adapted to engage the dock, the adjacent end of thefloor member projecting beyond the abutment members, and a pair ofabutment members carried by the side members and adapted to engage thecarrier platform, the last mentioned abutment members projecting beyondthe adjacent end of the oor member, a oor member approach section hingedto the carrier end of the oor member, and a second floor member approachsection hinged to the dock end of the oor member.

CHESTER D. BINTLIFF.

EUGENE L. ATTEBERY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,284,022 Schmeller May 26, 1942 2,424,876 Butler July 29,1947 2,449,829 Agren Sept. 21, 1948 2,461,678 Christensen Feb. 15, 19492,521,349 Diamond Sept. 5, 1950 2,560,064 Astry July 10, 1951

